WAYLAND — Gloria Harrison's father gave her 50 cents every morning to buy reduced-prices lunches at school.
Instead, the then-third grader went straight to a bodega in Dorchester and bought all the candy she could: Boston baked beans, Laffy Taffy, squirrel nuts. She'd fill a paper brown bag with the "worst candy you can think of that would ruin your teeth" and store it in her backpack.
Meanwhile, her friend Carrie Clifford brought yogurt or raisins to school. They'd often trade snacks during recess or lunchtime.
It was 40 years ago.
"That's when I don't think I realized she was white and she didn't realize I was Black," said Harrison. "We were friends, just innocent kids playing at recess."